Bruise prevention pads

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a pad assembly for protecting a user from bruising and friction associated with falling. The pad assembly may include a layered pad including a sponge layer and a batting layer positioned between a pair of fabric layers; and a fastener extending from the layered pad, the fastener configured to secure the pad assembly to a user. In some embodiments, the layered pad may include, in order, an inner soft fabric layer configured to be positioned against the user&#39;s body; a batting layer; an interfacing layer; a sponge layer; and an outer soft fabric layer. The pad assembly may be sized and dimensioned to protect any desired body part, such as the buttocks region or the scrotum.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/161,007 filed on May 13, 2015, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to protection devices, and more particularly, to a device for protecting a user's buttocks from bruising while simultaneously reducing friction from falls.

Infants and children who are born with, for example, hemophilia, bruise and bleed easily due to a deficiency of clotting factor in the blood, often requiring hospitalization. However, there are no devices designed to protect the buttocks of children who bleed easily. Thus, when these children fall, they tend to bleed and have to receive factor in a hospital. While conventional diapers and training pants offer some padding, these conventional devices are not sufficient to protect children from falls.

Therefore, what is needed is a device that can protect areas of a user's body, such as his or her buttocks, from bruising while simultaneously reducing friction from falls.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a pad assembly for protecting a user from bruising and friction associated with falling. The pad assembly may include a layered pad including a sponge layer and a batting layer positioned between a pair of fabric layers; and a fastener extending from the layered pad, the fastener configured to secure the pad assembly to a user. In some embodiments, the layered pad may include, in order, an inner soft fabric layer configured to be positioned against the user's body; a batting layer; an interfacing layer; a sponge layer; and an outer soft fabric layer. The pad assembly may be sized and dimensioned to protect any desired body part, such as the buttocks region or the scrotum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a profile view of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a section detail view of one embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a section detail view of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a profile view of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention can be adapted for any of several applications.

The device of the present disclosure may be used as a tailgating assembly and may comprise the following elements. This list of possible constituent elements is intended to be exemplary only, and it is not intended that this list be used to limit the device of the present application to just these elements. Persons having ordinary skill in the art relevant to the present disclosure may understand there to be equivalent elements that may be substituted within the present disclosure without changing the essential function or operation of the device.

-   -   1. Protection Pad     -   2. Fastener

The various elements of the device of the present disclosure may be related in the following exemplary fashion. It is not intended to limit the scope or nature of the relationships between the various elements and the following examples are presented as illustrative examples only.

By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1-7, some embodiments of the present disclosure include a protection device comprising a pad assembly configured to protect an area of a user's body from bruising and from friction associated with falling, the pad assembly comprising a layered pad and a fastener configured to attach the layered pad to a user. As shown, for example, in FIG. 4, the layered pad may comprise, in order, an inner soft fabric layer 18 configured to be positioned against the user's body, a batting layer 20, an interfacing layer 21, a sponge layer 22, and an outer soft fabric layer 18. The layers may be attached to one another using any suitable method and, in some embodiments, are sewn together with thread. A fastener may attach the inner soft fabric layer 18 to another item of clothing, such as a diaper, training pants, underwear or the like. In some embodiments, the pad assembly may comprise at least one tab 14 with a fastener 16 attached to an inner surface thereof, wherein the fastener 16 is configured to attach the pad assembly to a user.

In embodiments, the pad assembly may be either disposable or reusable. In disposable embodiments, the pad assembly may comprise an adhesive fastener, wherein the adhesive is configured to removably adhere to a garment or the user. Alternatively, in reusable embodiments, the pad assembly may comprise a reusable fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener, configured to engage with a garment or the user to secure the assembly to the user.

The pad assembly of the present disclosure may have any necessary size and shape, and in some embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-3, may mimic the shape and size of the buttocks region 26 of a user 24. Thus, the pad assembly may comprise a buttocks pad assembly 10 comprising a portion that runs proximal to the waistline of the user and two leg edges, wherein each leg edge runs proximal to the upper leg of the user. In such embodiments, the assembly 10 may attach to, for example, a diaper, a pair of underwear, a pair of training pants, or the like via a plurality of tabs 14. each tab 14 comprising a fastener 16 attached to a surface thereof. In a particular embodiment, the buttocks pad assembly 10 may be about 10¾ inches wide at its widest point and about 4 inches long from the waistline to the crotch area. However, other sizes and dimensions are envisioned depending on the size of the user.

In an alternate embodiment, such as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pad assembly may comprise a scrotum pad assembly 28 comprising a pad body 30 configured to envelope the scrotum 34 of a user. As shown in the Figures, the pad body 30 may be substantially cross- shaped with a pair of wings 32, wherein the wings 32 are configured to wrap around the scrotum 34 and removably attach to the pad body 30.

The layers of the pad assembly of the present disclosure may be made from any suitable materials. In some embodiments, the soft fabric layers 18 comprise the same material while in other embodiments, the soft fabric layers 18 comprise different materials. For example, the soft fabric layers 18 may comprise a gentle material, such as cotton or fleece. The sponge layer 20 may comprise any suitable absorbent sponge material.

While the pad assembly of the present disclosure is described above as protecting the buttocks or scrotum of a user, the pad assembly may vary in size and shape to protect other areas of a user's body. For example, the pad assembly may be shaped and sized to protect a user's back, ribcage, and spinal cord, wherein the pad assembly is configured to attach to or engage with an article of clothing, such as a onesie or a shirt. In such embodiments, the protection device may protect a child's ribs, back, and spinal cord when the child is being picked up by a caretaker, such that the caretaker's hands do not cause any bruising or bleeding. In other embodiments, the pad assembly device may be sized to protect a user's neck, upper back, lower back, tailbone, chest, right and/or left shoulders, right and/or left elbow, ulnar wrist, hip, anterior thigh, thigh and buttocks together, knee, shin, heel and ankle, or any other body part a user wishes or needs to protect.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pad assembly for protecting a user from bruising and friction associated with falling, the pad assembly comprising: a layered pad comprising a sponge layer and a batting layer positioned between a pair of fabric layers; and a fastener extending from the layered pad, the fastener configured to secure the pad assembly to a user.
 2. The pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the layered pad comprises, in order: an inner soft fabric layer configured to be positioned against the user's body; a batting layer; an interfacing layer; a sponge layer; and an outer soft fabric layer.
 3. The pad assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner soft fabric layer and the outer soft fabric layer comprise the same material.
 4. The pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the pad assembly is sized to protect a body part selected from the group consisting of a buttocks region and a scrotum.
 5. The pad assembly of claim 4, wherein: the pad assembly is configured to protect the scrotum; and the pad assembly comprises a substantially cross-shaped pad body with a pair of pad wings.
 6. The pad assembly of claim 1, wherein: the pad assembly comprises at least one tab extending therefrom; and the fastener is attached to an inner surface of the at least one tab.
 7. The pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a member selected from the group consisting of an adhesive and a hook and loop fastener. 